Region digging out from storm

NAHANT, Mass.  Residents of the Northeast climbed through snowdrifts and navigated icy streets and sidewalks Sunday as they dug out from a weekend noreaster that dumped more than two feet of snow in places and slammed waves over coastal seawalls.

Associated Press

Published 12:00 am, Monday, December 8, 2003

The powerful storm that started plowing up the coast on Friday began losing strength Sunday. At least 10 deaths were linked to the storm around the Northeast.

Jim Casey was out clearing his sidewalk in Nahant on Sunday morning with his 2-year-old daughter, Anya, who cradled a child-sized shovel in her arms.

"This is very heavy snow, but its great," said Casey, 35. "We went down to the beach and took a Christmas picture in front of the waves."

National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Dellicarpini said the storms center was about 80 miles northeast of Cape Cod by midday Sunday as it moved slowly out to sea, giving a parting slap to the coast with gusting wind that drove heavy surf onto the shore.

"Its just taking its time," he said.

The wind downed trees and power lines in Massachusetts, and utilities reported about 8,000 power outages Sunday morning along the Massachusetts coast.

At high tide Sunday morning, waves crashed over seawalls in coastal towns.

Flooding closed several streets in Scituate, said fire Capt. George Anderson. The state sent a National Guard vehicle in case anyone needed to be evacuated, but the town southeast of Boston had only one rescue, he said.

"We had people stranded in a car," Anderson said. "The water on the street was two or three feet deep."

Nearly 3 feet of snow fell in western Maine, and up to 2 feet fell in eastern New Yorks Rensselaer County. As much as 20 inches fell in Connecticut; Clarksburg, Pa., measured 15 inches; and up to 19 inches fell on New Yorks Long Island.

The storm had disrupted school events, holiday shopping, sports events and SAT college entrance exams during the weekend.

It even postponed a National Guard homecoming in Rhode Island. Forty Rhode Island Air National Guard troops were expected to arrive at a base in North Kingstown on Sunday, but they had to be rescheduled for today, said Lt. Col. Michael McNamara.

Bostons Logan Airport closed Saturday evening and didnt get a runway reopened until just after noon Sunday. Hundreds of flights were canceled Saturday at the New York City areas three major airports, and Philadelphia also had cancellations. At some airports, stalled travelers had to spend the night sleeping on cots.

"It will take a day or two to get back to normal," said Rollin Tebbetts, operations manager at Connecticuts Bradley International Airport.